U.S. EPA's Region 5 Awards Almost $4.2 million in Recovery Act Funding to Illinois EPA to Reduce Diesel Emissions and Create Jobs(Chicago - July 21, 2009) In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and the environment for the people of Illinois, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has awarded almost $4.2 million to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to clean up on-and off-road diesel vehicles and equipment in the state. These clean diesel projects will create jobs while protecting Illinois' air quality.

"Investing in clean diesel projects in the Great Lakes region will protect public health, bolster the economy and create green jobs," said Bharat Mathur, acting regional administrator. "These Recovery Act funds will move us one step closer to a clean energy future."

The funds are provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. Under this funding competition, EPA Region 5 alone received 81 grant applications requesting more than $211 million to help fund clean diesel emissions projects. The awards announced today were chosen to maximize both economic impact and emissions reductions.Twenty-one fleets, impacting 675 eligible diesel vehicles or engines will be cleaned up. Twelve of the projects with 521 vehicles will be implemented in the Chicago and Metro-East St. Louis areas that do not meet national outdoor air quality standards. The projects involve the use of auxiliary power units, diesel oxidation catalysts, diesel multi-stage filters, direct-fired heaters and engine repowers (engine replacement with cleaner engines).

In addition to helping create and retain jobs, the clean diesel projects would reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost work days, and many other health impacts every year.

The Recovery Act allotted the National Clean Diesel Campaign a total of $300 million, of which the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program received $156 million to fund competitive grants across the nation. The Recovery Act also included $20 million for the National Clean Diesel Emerging Technology Program grants and $30 million for the SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program grants.

In addition, under the Act's State Clean Diesel Grant program, a total of $88.2 million has been provided to states for clean diesel projects through a noncompetitive allocation process.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.